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What’s New16 January 2012 Between 2009 and 2011, the UNDP Asia-Pacific Regional Centre led a collaborative review of 17 energy access programmes and projects implemented by governments, development agencies and the private sector in Asia-Pacific. By examining complex issues surrounding energy access, the review contributes to the on-going discussion on universal access to energy, and suggests pathways towards achieving it. The review collates knowledge of policies and practices in dissemination of low-emissions technologies, financing, market development, entrepreneurship, institutional strengthening and policy development that can be converged to make energy services affordable for the poor. This report provides practical guidance for policy makers and development practitioners on energy access. Together with an Agenda for Action Note and 17 case studies (published concurrently), it comprises a package of good practices and lessons learned in expanding energy access. Download publication (1.15 MB)22 December 2011 The manual is the product of a partnership among the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the United Nations Development Programme Asia-Pacific Regional Centre to provide coordinated assistance to national human rights institutions in the region through capacity assessments. It incorporates both qualitative and quantitative elements in assessing current capacities, forecasting future capacity requirements, identifying capacity gaps and, most importantly, developing strategies to close those gaps in the most significant areas. It also provides a firm basis for international cooperation to assist NHRIs when they undertake institutional strengthening. This manual has been developed based on lessons from capacity assessments conducted in Afghanistan, Jordan, Malaysia, the Maldives, Mongolia, Palestine, and Thailand. It provides an easy step-by-step guide on how to conduct the capacity needs assessment. It also discusses what the capacity assessment is and its relevance for NHRIs, the benefits that they can gain from it, and what is involved in doing it. Download publication (1.5 MB) 22 December 2011 This publication is an in-depth case study of the International Law Project in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. Its principal purpose is to enable the lessons learned from the ILP to become more broadly known to ensure more effective work for the promotion of rights and justice. The ILP is a UNDP project implemented by the Department of Treaties and Law in the Lao PDR’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs through a project team located within the Ministry. The ILP seeks to strengthen the Lao PDR’s engagement with and participation in the international legal system, particularly the international human rights system, through assisting treaty ratification and implementation. This includes compliance with reporting obligations and education and training in international law, particularly international human rights and humanitarian law. The project is now in its third phase, signifying a long term commitment to strengthening the Lao PDR’s observance of international law. This review examines the project’s achievements with a view to identifying those elements in the project that contribute to its effectiveness and could provide a basis for future learning, adaptation and application in the Lao PDR and elsewhere. It describes the project’s successes and challenges and makes recommendations for its continued successful implementation. It also offers ten “lessons learned”. These lessons can assist other states and other international agencies to develop and implement their own programs to strengthen observance of international law and engagement in the international legal system. Download publication (600 KB) 16 December 2011 This paper uncovers barriers to equality in legal systems that restrict human rights along gender lines – patent and latent; and proposes possible ways to redress legal discrimination for accelerating human development. It explores three strategic avenues for simultaneous action. One, fixing institutions – laws, legal practices and modes of access; two, changing attitudes of those who create, uphold, and use laws; and three, establishing ongoing assessments to reveal inequalities and monitor progress. The focus of evidence is from countries of Asia-Pacific. However, given widespread gender-linked gaps in justice systems, and similarities of legal challenges posed, the paper is expected to be relevant also for other similarly placed countries. Download publication (1.3 MB) 13 December 2011 The case study presents a summary of investigative studies conducted for risk assessment of the city of Galle in Sri Lanka and focuses on development of simplified approach to risk assessment, planning of mitigation measures and their implementation. Both detailed and simplified approaches have been adopted for risk assessment and the outputs have been compared examining the differences. Given that coastline of Sri Lanka is prone to low frequency and high impact tsunami hazard, appropriate coast protection measures have been proposed. Download publication (1.75 MB) 01 December 2011 The severe social and economic impact of HIV on the households of people living with HIV in Asia forces a large number of households to adopt coping mechanisms that erode their income, savings, assets and human capital, and push them into irreversible poverty, according to a new report titled 'Socio Economic Impact of HIV at the Household Level in Asia: A Regional Analysis' released by the UNDP Asia Pacific Regional Centre based in Bangkok. More...
17 November 2011 Working with communities, government agencies, NGOs and businesses, UNDP’s forest-related programmes support the development of policies and community-based, sustainable measures that improve forest management. This new PSA recognizes that forests and sustainable forest management can contribute significantly to sustainable development, poverty eradication and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. 11 November 2011 The 2011 fourth issue of the newsletter covers events and activities across the region on macroeconomics issues from a gender perspective. Read more about ‘work and well-being in climate change scenarios in northern Philippines’ and ‘gender gaps and related poverty incidences in remote villages in Bhutan’. This issue also introduces publications ‘Women and Labour Markets in Asia: Rebalancing for Gender Equality’, ‘Women’s Productive Resources: Realising the Right to Food for All’ and ‘Locating Women’s Livelihoods in the Human Rights Framework’. Download newsletter (570 KB 09 November 2011 Kathmandu, 9 November 2011 - The International Development Law Organization (IDLO) in collaboration with the legal apex body for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARCLAW), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UNAIDS, and the World Bank; will co-host a South Asian Roundtable Dialogue on HIV and the Law at the Yak and Yeti Hotel, Kathmandu from 8-10 November 2011. The Roundtable will bring together 75 delegates from across South Asia including community advocates, lawyers, judges, representatives of human rights institutions, parliamentarians and government agencies. More... 03 November 2011 Palau tops Human Development Index in the Pacific Nouméa, New Caledonia, 3 November 2011 - Despite impressive human development rankings in some of the Pacific Island countries, the region faces a future of rising sea-levels, reduced fresh water sources, and diminishing fish stocks. The 2011 Human Development Report—Sustainability and Equity: A Better Future for All—argues that environmental sustainability can be most fairly and effectively achieved by addressing health, education, income, and gender disparities together with the need for global action on energy production and ecosystem protection. More... 02 November 2011 Copenhagen, 2 November 2011—Pollution, deforestation and rising sea levels threaten development in island nations of Asia and the Pacific, while South Asia must overcome acute poverty and internal inequalities to maintain current rates of progress, warns the 2011 Human Development Report, released here today by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The 2011 Report—Sustainability and Equity:
21 October 2011 Hard Rain is one of the top three selected films for the Climate Change Adaptation Film Festival 2011 in Bangkok. The film is in two parts and explores climate change from a human development lens in Asia and the Pacific. Shot in India, Kiribati, The Philippines and Viet Nam, this film is produced as a curtain raiser to the upcoming Asia-Pacific Human Development Report on Climate Change and is produced by Dev.tv in collaboration with UNDP. The film will be screened at the award ceremony on 27 October 2011, 17:00-18:00 hrs, during the Second Climate Change Adaptation Forum 2011 at United Nations Conference Centre, Bangkok, Thailand. View trailer 18 October 2011 Bangkok – Four women peace advocates from some of the most conflict affected countries in Asia received today the first N-PEACE Awards established to acknowledge the leadership of women in building peace, empowering their communities and in preventing conflicts. Purna Shova Chitrakar, Electronita Duan, Shreen Abdul Saroor, Filomena Barros dos Reis - four women working at the grass-roots and national levels remained at the frontlines of dealing with conflict and reconciling for peace. They were honored for their remarkable contributions to building peace and creating cohesion in their communities. The four awardees are part of a multi-country network known as N-PEACE www.n-peace.net -- Engage for Peace, Equality, Access, Community and Empowerment. More... 16 October 2011 Dhaka - A three day regional conference on South Asia Women’s Political Leadership kicked off in Dhaka, Bangladesh bringing together members of parliaments from Afghanistan, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and key stakeholders from across the region. High level political engagement for larger diversity in parliaments and greater representation of women in decision-making positions are key themes for discussion. Leading gender experts will discuss as well series of alternative pathways to gender equality and overcoming barriers and obstacles facing women entering political life in South Asia. The conference will identify priorities for future advocacy and engagement actions in the run up to a large global conference to be held in the Maldives in 2012. More... 13 October 2011 Three dozen women peace advocates from some of the most conflict affected countries in Asia will come to Bangkok on 18-20 October to honor four of their own, and take stock of the ways in which they can strengthen women’s roles in building peace and security. They are part of a regional network of some 225 women who are community leaders in conflict prevention, dispute resolution, post-crisis reconstruction and peace-building. Known as N-PEACE - Engage for Peace, Equality, Access, Community and Empowerment - their network includes women from Nepal, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Timor-Leste who communicate online and through consultations like this one to share experiences and strategies in advocating, promoting and keeping peace in their countries. More... 12 October 2011 “The Government of Nepal is highly committed to combating corruption, as demonstrated by our ratification of the UN Convention against Corruption, the adoption of a national anti-corruption strategy and our push for a Right to Information law. We have a zero tolerance for corruption and are therefore very pleased to welcome so many anti-corruption practitioners from Asia and the Pacific to share their experiences in fighting corruption,” said Madhav Prasad Ghimire, Chief Secretary, Government of Nepal, at the opening in Kathmandu of a three-day anti-corruption meeting organized by the UN Development Programme (UNDP). More... 06 October 2011 The e-discussion, based on initial findings of the soon to be published UNDP report 'The Socio-Economic Impact of HIV at the Household Level in Asia: A Regional Analysis of the Impact on Women and Girls', leveraged on the expertise and experience of the HIV-APCoP members to i) understand the critical socio-economic impacts of HIV on women and girls; ii) to explore in-depth impact mitigation possibilities; and iii) to consolidate knowledge on gaps and best practices in existing social protection strategies and schemes. Contributions were received from government, civil society, academia, and the UN family from across the Asia-Pacific region.
04 October 2011 Bangkok, one of Asia’s most rapidly growing mega-cities, is captured in thousand photos telling stories about life, place, time and surrounding that contribute to climate change. A selection of these photos, taken by ordinary citizen of the Thai capital, started their journey through various locations in Bangkok, including slum settlements on 3 October, World Habitat Day 2011. The Mobile Photo Exhibition is a gentle warning about the pressing need to manage rapid urbanization and to design climate change strategies that can transform our cities into safe, human friendly ‘polis’ for the future. More...
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